“Uh… shouldn’t you be in Miami?” he asks, his eyes following me toward the kitchen as I grab a mug.
“Yeah… change of plans.”
His stare burns into my back.
“You okay, Mace?” Jace pipes up.
“Yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t I be? I’d much rather be here than in Miami anyway.”
I kick myself for saying too much knowing that I look like I’m making too much of an effort to convince them.
I sense Nathan step up behind me and the dread in my belly only gets worse.
He’s not going to let this go. He’s already warned me what he’ll do if Leon hurts me.
“Macie? He growls, and I drop my arm from where I’ve just started the coffee maker.
“Everything is okay, Nate. Really.”
“Yeah? Then turn around and look me in the eyes as you say that.”
Fine.
Spinning on my toes, I tell myself that I can easily convince him I’m fine. I’ve been convincing the world of something similar since the day my mom died, sending my life into what seems to be one very long roller coaster ride that I just know is going to crash at some point.
My eyes lock on his jersey-covered chest once we’re face to face, but it takes me a couple of seconds to lift my eyes to his.
I hope like hell that by the time our gazes connect, I’ve found the strength I need to put his worry to bed.
I think it might be wishful thinking.
The second his concerned hazel eyes come into view, my own fills with tears and I can’t help but allow my bottom lip to tremble.
“Shit, Mace.”
He pulls me into his arms, holding me tight as I silently cry into his chest.
Most of it is for Leon and everything that happened, but some of the tears are just from pure frustration at how badly I’m handling all of this.
I shouldn’t care.
I knew he was going to pull the rug from under my feet at some point. I should have been prepared for this.
But instead, here I am sobbing like a baby.
Maybe it would have been different if he just got bored of me. If he cheated with a jersey chaser even.
I don’t think anything could have prepared me for the reality. For how painful, brutal, horrifying our truths really were.
“I-I’m o-okay,” I stutter against his chest as his hands rub up and down my back.
His body tenses at my lie.
“Jace, could you—”
“Yeah, I’m heading out anyway. Shall I tell the guys you’re not gonna make it?”
“Thanks, man,” he says, twisting me into his side and guiding me over to the couch.
“Y-you should go. You don’t have to stay and babysit me. I’m a big girl.”
“It’s okay,” he assures. “I’d rather make sure you’re okay than work out again.”
“Okay,” I breathe, knowing that I’m not going to win no matter how much I might protest.
He gently lowers me to the seat before returning to the kitchen for my coffee, preparing it for me, and bringing it over.
By the time he’s sitting beside me on the couch, Jace has left and the dorm has fallen silent.
I’ve got no idea where Charlie is. Sleeping probably, I guess the question is… in whose bed?
“I need to kick his ass, don’t I?”
I can’t help but burst out laughing at the serious expression on Nate’s face.
“No, Nate, you don’t.”
Leon’s been through enough. I don’t think having an angry basketball player on his back over this is what he really needs right now.
“Don’t protect him, Macie.”
“I’m not… I— It’s complicated.”
“I’ve got all day,” he says, resting back, getting comfortable with the story he thinks I’m going to tell.
Shaking my head, I keep my eyes on my knees knowing that he’s going to be disappointed in me for the words that are about to leave my lips.
“I knew it was all too good to be true. I saw this coming, I just didn’t—”
“Macie,” he growls just like I was expecting him too. “Do not put this on you. I don’t want to hear that you were never good enough for him and expected to be hurt. That’s not how it’s meant to be.”
“Maybe not, but it’s the truth. Come on, Nate,” I say, finally looking up at him. “He’s one of MKU’s kings and I’m…” I hold my hands out to my sides. “I’m just me. Shy, inexperienced geek. We were never going to work.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it, Mace. You’re worth a million of him.”
My breath catches at his words.
He might be my closest friend, but he’s never said anything like that to me before.
“I mean it, Macie. He’s a douchebag who can’t see what’s right in front of him.”
He scoots a little closer and my eyes widen when he reaches out, tucking my hair behind my ear.
It’s Leon’s move.
My heart pounds, my eyes fluttering closed as his finger brushes the shell of my ear.
In my head, it’s Leon and instinctively I lean a little closer, getting lost in the sensation and his touch.
It’s not until his lips brush mine that I come crashing back to Earth with a body jolting bang.
“Holy crap,” I jump up, my heart racing and my eyes wide as I stare down at Nate who’s still leaning over into the space I was just in. “What the hell was that?” I ask, barely able to speak through my increased breaths.
“I can’t see you sad, Mace. It kills me.”
“And that was your answer?”
He shrugs, a little regret creeping into his expression.
“I’m sorry, I—” He cuts himself off, his eyes dropping from mine for a beat.
When he glances up once again, he looks back in control. Like the Nathan I’m used to.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to wipe that look off your face. Leon is a fucking idiot for screwing this up.”
I shrug. “I’m not sure there was really anything to screw up. The whole thing was…” Incredible. Mind-blowing. “A mistake.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s not allowed to hurt, Mace.”
“I know, but I’m stronger than Leon Dunn. He can kiss my ass,” I say, throwing my hair over my shoulder.
“Damn right he can, but only after I’ve kept my promise to you.”
My brows pinch as I try to think back to what he might have said to me.
“Oh, no, no, no,” I chant when the penny drops. “Don’t go anywhere near him. I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”
He pushes to stand and comes almost toe to toe with me.
“No one hurts you and gets away with it, Mace.”
“Please. Please don’t.”
“I can’t promise that. Just know that what I’m capable of isn’t anywhere near what he deserves.”
My lips part to argue for Leon. To tell Nathan that Leon’s already been to hell and back, but I soon slam them shut. That is not my story to tell. And I’ll take it to the grave with me if that’s what he wants.
“I don’t need you to defend my honor, Nate. Leon and I are done, and I think it’s probably for the best if we all just move on and forget it ever happened.” I know that’s what I’m going to try to do at least.